The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-03-17


am an old banker cashier-coun-
try bank, if you please. l began work
IN that situation nearly thirty years
ago, and the changes in our bank
since that date have been few and far
between. Some OF the old men have
oeen replaced-we have increased our
.apital-we have a vault, with q time
ock-the directors room has been re-
furnished once or twice, but we have
never aspired to the frills and scallops
81 your city banks. However, we
nave had our adventures with burglars
sneaks, and bogus draft men, and the
.ity bank cashier can teach me moth
hg about raised checks, counterfeit
pills, or sharpers OF any grade. l got
my eyes open very early, and there
VAS an adventure in it which may
interest the reading public. Our
oank was established when the now
thriving city OF R-was only a town
Of $500 people. In those far-back
lays We had nothing like the present
burglar and tire-proof safes. The
Oank, which was two-story building
with a cellar, had a sort OF box made
Of iron, and this was enclosed in brick
work in the cellar and called a vault.
A lock with a key weighing half q
pound was rivited to the iron door,
and when the job was finished we all
elt perfectly safe and secure. There
Vas a stairway from The cashiers
room, and every night the money used
10 be taken down to the vault and
very morning brought up again. Be-
lore leaving the bank it was my duty
20 see that the vault door was locked,
and then hid the key behind loose
prick in the cellar wall. The bank
cellar was used only to store the wood
required for our two stoves during
:old weather, and its two windows
we're secured by iron shutters which
oolted inside. AS we built the bank
building other parties built a store,
and they were allowed to use our wall
10 save expense. Thus, from cellar
potion to roof, there was only sim
lie wall dividing us, and above the
ground that was OF brick, and a foot
thick.
The bank had been doing business
about year when the merchant who
occupied the store failed in business,
and the building stood empty for sew
.ral weeks. At length it was rented
again, and this time by man who
gave out that he was an agent for
some eastern machinery manufacture
| Frs. He ran a partition across the
store to make an Office in front, and
ne got in desk, hung up some maps
! and advertising cards, and announced
that he would soon be supplied with
sample machinery. He did not put
Nd any sign, and as he did not seem
interested in cultivating the acquaint
ance OF the townspeople his presence
was soon almost forgotten. He seem
I'd morose aud unsocial, People have
aid tie same charge at my own door
You may, therefore, think it singular
that James Dowd, the new conner, anC
were soon acquainted, and that
had a deciding liking for him
Perhaps this was BECAUSE
he deposited S70o will
rs almost as soon as he reached r.
and promised to be a good customer
He seemed to like me, too, and aftel
three or four weeks, knowing that h.
vas all alone and in a strange town,
invited him to my mothers house tt
pIay me a game OF checkers. He cam,
and all the family felt we'll toward
him on first sight. He was we'll learn
ed, a gentleman in speech and de
meanor, and I felt a friendship fol
him at once.
He came again and again, and hl
found q warm welcome each time
He also came into the bank quit
often, sometimes increasing his bal
ance and sometimes checking out
and on several occasions l droppet
into his office in q friendly way. H
oever asked a question about tn
banks affairs, nor did he exhlbl
much curiosity in any direction. Gu
acquaintance was begun in Septembe
| and lasted to the 10th day OF March
On the 18th day of March l observes
two strangers in Dowd's office in cor
yersation with him, but that was
simple incident, to be forgotten !
an hour. Just before the close G
the banking hours he came IN an
checked out his balances. which wa
abont 1855, saying. in an apologetles
wav, that he needed the cash to clos
I'D a business deal. l told him tina
the 10Th was my sisters birthday
and that we should have a few friend
drop in for the eysning. I gave him
strong invitation, and he accepted
with seeming pleasure. | did net 81
him again until noon OF the 18th, an
then he said he should come early.
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon 1T b.
gan to snow and blow in q furiou
manner. We lived a long mlle frol
the bank, and when night came 40
the blizzard increased, we knew the
none of our guests could be expecte
to put in an appearance. 4 note can
from DoBd directly after supper, sta
ing that he had q sore throat and d
not dare to brave the storm, and pu
ed off my boots and sat down iQr
evening with book OF history. Not
} person came near US, and it had g
to be 8 o'clock when was sudden
seized with desire to rush down
:! the bank. 1t was as il l had been col
manded to go, and before l realizt
] what l was doing | had pulled on n
boots and gone for my oyercoat,.
"You are not going out!" exclailmlq'
mother and sister in chorus.
: "Yes-to the bank"
cat this time OF night and in tn
storm? You must be crazy"
"But L feel an impulse to 60. l
deed can't wait ANOTHER minute"
! snatched my revolver fror. t.
hall tree drawer, and buttoned n
overcoat as ran. ! had g sava
J bulldog about the house rs a "bul
lar ALARM" and When ! ha@ rAl
heels. 1 was so excited end und
| anah q s,,oll that SCARCELY motto